Picolo recommends · Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
A pink hotel from the Victorian era, set in deep green lawns with the flat top of Table Mountain filling the sky behind the pool.
Walk up the palm-lined drive and the city noise drops away. The pink walls of the Mount Nelson rise out of lawns and flower beds, and the mountain stands so close behind it that it seems to lean over the pool.
The hotel has been receiving guests since 1899, and it still keeps some ceremony: tea in the lounges in the afternoon, linen and silver, staff who remember your name. Gardens is a leafy district, and the cafés of Kloof Street are a short stroll away.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
We choose it for a first trip to Cape Town. You get the history, a garden big enough to get lost in and a pool under the mountain, yet the city centre and its restaurants are on foot from the gate.
The mood is formal, and it shows in the prices and the dress of fellow guests. If you want a beach outside the door or a relaxed, barefoot feel, the Atlantic coast or the Waterfront will suit you better.
What you get
- Large garden with lawns and flower beds
- Pool below Table Mountain
- Afternoon tea in the lounges
- Historic hotel from 1899
- Kloof Street restaurants a short walk away
A day at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
- Morning
- Coffee on the terrace while the mountain is still clear of cloud.
- Midday
- A cable car ride up Table Mountain before the wind picks up.
- Afternoon
- Afternoon tea in the lounges, in no particular hurry.
- Evening
- Dinner among the small restaurants on Kloof Street.
Location
Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa
Open in MapsQuestions about Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
Is Mount Nelson within walking distance of the city centre?
Yes. Gardens sits on the edge of the centre, so the Company's Garden, Kloof Street and the museums are all reachable on foot from the hotel.
Can non-guests book afternoon tea at Mount Nelson?
Afternoon tea is one of the hotel's best-known traditions and is generally open to visitors as well. Book ahead in summer, when tables go quickly.
Is Mount Nelson good for children?
Families are welcome, and the garden and pool give children room to move. The atmosphere is fairly formal, though, so it suits calm families better than lively ones.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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